HC Deb 16 June 1999 vol 333 c141W
Ms Corston

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she has reached a view on the priorities for the promoting social inclusion element of the new targeting social need initiative; and how these will be taken forward. [87560]

Mr. McFall

Following extensive consultation with a range of voluntary sector and other interests the Secretary of State has decided that the first four strands of work to be tackled under the Promoting Social Inclusion will be:

  • action to alleviate the needs of Travellers
  • a strategic approach to the needs of minority ethnic groups
  • the problems of teenage parenthood
  • strategies for making services more accessible to minority groups and others at risk of social exclusion—focusing firstly on how information can be presented and distributed in ways appropriate to their needs.

Working Groups will now be set up to examine each of these areas and to recommend effective ways of tackling social exclusion.